Walk Daily with God

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:105

There’s no denying that the Holy Bible is fundamental in our walk with Christ. When you talk about a physical workout you need to include stretching and warming up your muscles. In our spiritual workout, we can’t even begin without getting into His Word. The Bible is how God will speak to us most of the time. We simply must feed on God’s Word daily.

In this hectic fast-paced world we now live in, I’m afraid this simple practice is neglected far too much. Forget the excuses! If its important to us, we’ll find a way to spend time in His Word.

To get it done daily will take real discipline. One hour of Bible study is 4% of our day. So, let’s think about some ways to make that happen!

Pastor Rick Warren offers these tips to an effective Bible Study: 1) ask the right questions, 2) write down your observations, 3) apply God’s Word, 4) study systematically, and 5) read it again and again! Remember, there are a lot of tools and resources available to us as we begin to study. You can do this effectively!

In Psalms 119, the psalmist posed the question “How can a young person stay pure?” He answered his own question in the next few verses:

• Live according to God’s Word
• Treasure God’s Word in our heart
• Rejoice in God’s Word
• Meditate on God’s Word

I’d like to introduce you (perhaps for the first time) to a study method known as Lectio Divina. This is translated “Divine Reading.” Select a passage of scripture to read. Start by reading slowly. Read it several times. Listen with your heart, not just your ears. Then reflect on the words. Give attention to any portion that begins to speak to you. Respond to that portion that seems to be significant. “Press” then to your heart and then pray (speak to God). Lastly, rest and listen. Be in God’s presence. Listen for God to speak to you through that passage.

Obviously, there are many ways to study the Bible. We can study books of the Bible, we can study topics or characters. There are ‘apps’ that can guide us through a study. We can even do a word study. We are not just reading a novel, we are reading the Holy Bible. Let’s meditate on what we’ve read. 

Here are five tips for your daily walk with God:

1. Equip yourself - get ready to dive in! Have a good study Bible, maybe even more than one translation.
2. Be determined - make up your mind that this is a priority and that you will treat it as such.
3. Commit to study! You can read or you can study, meditating on the words with the intention of applying the Word obediently. Have courage!
4. Start and finish with prayer (at the very least)!
5. Be the salt and light in the world - go and share the Good News! We are to make disciples.

So, don’t just sit there. Get up and find your Bible, resources and your note pad. This workout will be great. 

Be sure and listen in to my recent podcast episode "God's Treasure Map" on "Training for Godliness - A Podcast Program of Spiritual Fitness Ministries." You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Google Play, and Podbean.

Until next time...

"His faithful love endures forever."

Chaplain Gray

Privilege of Prayer

Have you ever thought about a 'spiritual workout'? We all know about physical workouts, even if we aren't actively engaged in them! But shouldn't we have a plan on how we keep up with a daily spiritual routine? Over the next few posts, I will be presenting a Basic Spiritual Workout. 

Let us Pray
The Reverend Billy Graham stated, “He has given you His Word, and the priceless privilege of prayer and worship.” We should be very grateful because in many parts of the world we’d be forbidden to pray. Yet, we sometimes don’t take it seriously. We regulate prayer to be used “in case of emergency”.

Author Kathryn Shirey reminds us that “Prayer is our conversation with God.” Yes, we are told to pray and Jesus even gave us a model prayer. So, why do we make it so hard to pray? Too busy? Blah, Blah. Prayer should be a daily spiritual workout. It will empower our soul!

Erik Raymond explained about prayer. “The sweetness of communion with God in prayer should never be assumed but actively treasured and protected. We are, after all, speaking with our Father who adopted us, our Savior who bought us, and the Holy Spirit who seals and indwells us.” He goes on to say “Prayer also has a unique power. To neglect our spiritual health is to neglect our spiritual power. It is like slashing our tires on our car or draining our phone batteries before we leave for work. Prayer is essential to Christian living, so we must diligently keep a close watch on ourselves.”

Use Various Methods 
Different prayer methods will help you sustain your prayer life. Changes in a method will invigorate and reenergize your prayers.

There are a few prayer methods I’d like to mention. Dick Eastman developed a structured hour in prayer. It has 12 elements and you devote 5 minutes to each. It starts and ends in praise! Another popular method is using the acronym ACTS. This helps us remember several prayer basics: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. You can pray through all those elements when you pray or focus on one at a time. I also like the idea of praying the Psalms. One Psalm a day! What a wonderful way to commune with the Most High! Prayer walking can be a great form of intercessory prayer. You can physically walk, or even virtually take a walk. 

Here are a few strategies to mention that will help you in your prayer workout. Keep a journal of your prayer requests and answers to prayer! When you are alone, praying out loud occasionally will help you stay focused. Also triggers, like an emergency vehicle going by, can alert you to an opportunity for prayer. 

Working out in prayer Recap:
I may be alone or with others. My style and method will vary, sometimes according to if I am alone or not.

I may be very brief or devote a significant amount of time, in structured prayer.

I am subject to the sudden urge to pray. There are triggers that should draw me to prayer and the Holy Spirit may even move me to a time of prayer.

There are numerous postures appropriate for prayer. I may be on my knees or bowing in a pew, but when my “heart” is seeking to commune with my King, I will yield to Him in my own way!

When I keep a list of requests it helps me focus. When I mark them or note they’ve been answered it GLORIFIES HIM.


Lastly...

We know that Jesus had a significant prayer life.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 
Mark 1:35

I consider prayer part of my daily spiritual workout. Do you?

Be sure and check out my new Podcast - "Training for Godliness". You can find it on Apple Podcast, Google Play or Podbean. This link will take you there! Please download and listen in. There are 4 episodes already and more to come.


Until next time...

"His faithful love endures forever."


Chaplain Gray